critic reviews
Taittinger elegantly captures the power and generosity of the 2012 vintage in the Comte de Champagne Blanc de Blanc 2012. Rich and seductive, the nose is replete with ripe yellow apple, lemon tart, buttered warm brioche and honeycomb. Medium to full-bodied, the ample and generous palate brims with notes of lemon curd, honey and toast enlivened by a spirited acidity and mouthwatering salinity to add considerable finesse to the long finish. Delightful and refreshing throughout, the bottle tasted was disgorted in January 2023 and finished with a nine gram per liter dosage.
The 2012 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne is showing beautifully out of the gates, offering up demonstrative aromas of sweet golden orchard fruit, buttery croissants, peach and hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and enveloping, it's a rich, textural, vinous Comtes somewhat reminiscent of the brilliant 2002. If it gains in tension and cut (as the 2002 did and as I suspect the 2012 will) with more time on cork, it will make this initial rating seem conservative.
The 2012 Comtes de Champagne is gorgeous. Warm and resonant in the glass, the 2012 Comtes shows all the allure that makes this vintage so appealing. The combination of bright citrus, mineral and floral notes typical of Comtes, enhanced by the soft contours of the vintage, makes for an inviting, open-knit Champagne that is quite showy right out of the gate. Light tropical accents on the finish add an exotic flair. Usually I recommend cellaring just-released Comtes, but that won’t be necessary here.